Paint strainer



April 9 1959 c. s. RICHARDS 2383,05?

PAINT STRAINER Filed Sept. 27, 1957 Fm! Fm. 2

INVENTOR United States Patent PAINT STRAINER Charles Spencer Richards,Tampa, Fla. Application September 27, 1957, Serial No. 686,669 6 Claims.(Cl. 210-476) This invention relates to a straining device for paint orthe like, and it particularly relates to a straining device which isadapted to fit diiferent size receptacles for receiving the strainedpaint.

There have, heretofore, been provided various types of paint strainers,generally taking the form of an ordinary mesh screen which sits upon thetop of the receiving receptacle. There have also, heretofore, beenprovided various types of screening funnels. However, the prior paintstrainers were too insecure to adequately perform the required functionand not only resulted in much waste of paint but also tended to falloif. The prior types of funnels did not provide for adequateadjustability and also were not adapted to use with paint which quicklycaused them to clog and become unusable.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a straining devicewhich is capable of overcoming the above as well as other disadvantagesof the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a straining devicewhich is adjustable to different size re ceiving receptacles while beingcapable of firm attachment to such receptacles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a straining devicewhich may be maintained free of clogging material.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improvedstraining device, of the character described, that is easily andeconomically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which ishighly efiicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists inthe details of construction and combination of parts, as will be morefully understood from the following description, when read inconjunction with the acompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a strainer device embodying the presentinvention, the device being shown supported on a five-gallon can.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, in enlarged detail, of the strainerdevice of Fig. l, the device being illustrated in such manner as to showhow it may be applied to either a one-gallon or five-gallon can.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the strainer element.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts, there is shown a strainer assembly,generally designated 10, comprising a funnel 12 of generally conicalshape having an open bottom 14 of relatively narrow diameter and an opentop 16 of relatively larger diameter. Extending up from the open top 16is an integral cylindrical reception portion 18, this cylindricalreception portion 18 being of a diameter substantially equal to thediameter of the open top 16.

Around the outside of the funnel 12 are spaced a plurality of rod-likeribs 20, preferably four in number. The ribs 20 may be constructed oftubular aluminum r brass, copper, steel or any other desired material.

At the 2,883,057 Patented Apr. 21, 1 959 lower end of the funnel 12,adjacent the open bottom 14, the ribs 20 are bent out at an angle toform radial legs 22 extending outwardly in a common plane. These legs 22are provided with generally V-shaped notches 24 which are spaced at adistance determined by the size of the smallest receiving receptacle towhich the funnel assembly is to be attached. These notches 24 form ribson the legs. In the form illustrated, the notches or ribs 24 are spacedto be received within the periphery of a one-gallon can 25. Extendingradially out from each of the notches 24 is a leg extension 26. Eachextension 26 is provided with a perpendicularly-bent end 28. Theextensions 26 may be made of any size desired, the length beingdetermined by the size of the largest receiving receptacle to which thefunnel assembly is to be attached. The bent ends 28 are adapted toembrace the outer periphery of such largest receptacle, which is hereillustrated as a five-gallon can 30.

Adapted to snugly fit within the cylindrical portion 18 of the funnel isthe strainer element 32. This strainer element 32 comprises acylindrical sleeve 34 of slightly less diameter than cylindricalreception portion 18 so that it can slidably telescope therein. Thesleeve 34 is open at both ends and, at its lower end, there is provideda mesh screen 36. This screen 36 is stretched over the lower end of thesleeve 34 and its peripheral edge is wound around a head 38 on the outerperiphery of the lower end of the sleeve 34, as best shown in Fig. 4.The end of the bead 38 is slightly spaced from the sleeve 34 andprovides an opening into which is frictionally jammed the edge 40 of thescreen, as shown in Fig. 4. When inserting the edge 40 of the screen,the bead 38 is pulled away from the sleeve 34 so as to make an openingsufficiently large to receive the edge 40 of the screen. Then the bead38 is pushed in to lock the edge 40 in place and to keep the screen 36itself taut. The bead 38 and the peripheral portion of the screen 36stretched around it is of a diameter just sufiicient to provide aslidable contact with the inner surface of cylindrical portion 18.

At the upper end of the sleeve 34 is provided a peripheral flange 42which extends radially outward. This flange 42 forms a rim which isadapted to abut against the upper edge of the cylindrical portion 18when the strainer element 32 is inserted therein so as to limit downwardmovement of the strainer element 32 and to hold it in firm engagementwithin the funnel assembly.

By the use of the above strainer assembly, not only is the strainersecured firmly in place by the legs 22 and their associated parts, butthe funnel below the strainer screen provides an efficient flow path forthe strained paint. Furthermore, if the screen should show a tendency tobecome clogged, the element 32 can easily be removed merely by liftingup on the flange 42, and the screen can then be rinsed or otherwisecleaned with turpentine or the like, after which it can be againinserted in the assembly. In addition, the entire assembly can be easilyused either with larger or smaller receiving receptacles.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting,since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of theinvention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

l. A strainer assembly comprising a conical funnel portion having arelatively large open end and a relatively small open end, a pluralityof ribs circumferentially spaced from each other around the outersurface of said funnel portion and extending in the general axialdirection of said funnel portion, legs integraHy connected to said ribs,each of said legs being bent at an angle to its corresponding rib andextending radially outward from the small end of said funnel portion,each of said legs having a notch portion forming a rib extending awayfrom the common plane of the legs and integral with a radial extension,each of said extensions having a substantially perpendicular endportion.

2. The strainer assembly of claim 1 wherein said funnel portion isconnected to a cylindrical receptacle portion extending from the largeend of said funnel portion, and a cylindrical strainer elementtelescopically receivable within said reception portion.

3. The strainer assembly of claim 2 wherein said strainer elementcomprises a cylindrical sleeve having both ends open, one of said openends being closed by a mesh screen stretched thereacross, and the otherof said open ends being defined by a radially outwardly-extendingperipheral flange.

4. A strainer assembly comprising a funnel portion of conical shape andhaving a wide, open, upper end and a narrow, open, lower end, aplurality of radially outwardlyextending legs projecting from said lowerend in a common plane, a rib on each of said legs, a perpendicularlybent end portion at the end of each leg, said ribs extending in the samedirection as said bent end portions, a cylindrical reception portionextending from the wide end of said funnel portion, and a removablestrainer element telescopically positioned within said receptionportion.

5. The strainer assembly of claim 4 wherein said strainer elementcomprises a sleeve, a mesh screen stretching across said sleeve, and aradially outwardly-extending flange on said sleeve. I

6. The strainer assembly of claim 4 wherein said legs are each integralwith a vertical strengthening rib on the outer surface of said funnelportion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS638,693 Bourie Dec. 12, 1899 1,293,297 Anderson Feb. 4, 1919 1,507,522Simon Sept. 2, 19 24

